At long last have begun adding images to the the VisaCash/Mondex.org website. Over the course of the next few months we will add a number of new pages this month and continue to add images and history. Look for a new Thailand Page and some really nice Mondex images.

As far as the website this month, in addition to adding the new Guest Book page, we completed the first of the Australian financial institutions Visa Cash image pages. The first Australian bank featured are Visa Cash cards from ANZ Bank. There are still a few ANZ Bank Visa Cash card images we know about but need an image. If you have one to share visit the page and I have noted the card images we need on the page when you visit. This month and into spring, we will be working to get the other Australian financial institutions Visa Cash images on the website. So look for those coming soon....

The construction of the First Union Bank Visa Cash images page(s) is complete with a bit of a different size image format in order to get all the cards on the fewest number of pages. It turned out pretty well and you can click on any image to enlarge the card to get a better look. This was a huge task, as First Union was the largest issuer of Visa Cash cards. You should note that on some of the cards "bleeding" has occurred and it is not the image. This was due to printing methods (do not know more than that) with the particular Visa Cash cards and can be noted on the "Flower Blossom Design Series for the Olympics" catalog numbers FST (14) - FST (17) on the first First Union Bank page.

Lastly, we have completed an Israeli Mondex card page of Mondex card images as it is unique and interesting. The Mondex card program in Israel appears to have been one of the more successful early Mondex trails and lasted two years and as mentioned before was used mainly at universities and high schools. If you have any information on the Mondex card programs in Israel please let me know.

More also to come on the Visa SuperSmart cards pages as well this year as they continue to be the most visited pages.

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Not much progress was made on the website, with the holidays and as a result a lack of free time. We did however have time to add a new Guest Book page, check it out and leave us a note over the last few years....

It was also during this time I learned of the unexpected passing of my friend Bruce Phillips in September 2007. I had sent him an email about that time as he lived in New Zealand literally the other side of the world from my home in Florida. In retrospect, I should have known something was wrong when I had not heard back from him, but with everyone’s busy schedules, I just thought he was just later than his usual time in responding. It was a shock to learn why he had not responded.

Bruce created the original system of cataloging Visa Cash cards which we are currently building upon on this website and has become the defacto standard worldwide. We talked at length on how to catalog pre-MasterCard and Mondex cards, which I had undertaken to catalog with his help.

He also wanted to see the New Zealand page I created completed with all known New Zealand Visa Cash and Mondex cards and their images. He was to then share with me his unique knowledge of the history of the Visa Cash programs in New Zealand and Australia. Unfortunately now that knowledge is lost. Also in retrospect, I am glad I finished the Visa Cash and Mondex New Zealand page images and he was able to see it. His friendship, Visa Cash card expertise and support of this website will be missed.

As far as the website this month, we did complete the ScotiaBank page and started construction of the First Union Bank page(s). It will take sometime to complete and organize these pages (probably why I put off starting!), as First Union was the largest issuer of Visa Cash cards. To save some space I am using a smaller size card format on these pages. One can, however still enlarge each card to see more detail. If I am happy with the results I may also rework the NationsBank pages as well to reduce the number of pages needed to navigate on the website.

I hope to start an Israeli Mondex page next as it is unique and interesting. The Mondex card program in Israel appears to have been one of the more successful early Mondex trails. The Mondex cards were used in conjunction with Israeli universities (much like the more successful UK Mondex trials). There was even at least one Mondex card issued for use at an Israeli high school!

More also to come on the Visa SuperSmart cards pages as well this year as they have proved to be the most visited pages. Lastly, I will be moving the "old" news on this page to an archive page, so what's new will be a monthly feature and stored for one year and then moved to an archive yearly page.

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The "What's New" monthly/quarterly updates prior to 2008 are now on the New's Archive page.